Machine for assembling fins and tubes



April J. D. LEAR 2,154,855.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FINS AND TUBES Filed Sept. 11, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet l 5 8 & kg WWW F 2?? i f $5 5 & g: w

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xitorneg April 18, 1939. J. D. LEAR 2,154,855

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FINS AND TUBES Filed Sept. 11, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 2 (It orneg April 18, 1939. J. D. LEAR MACHINE FORASSEMBLING FINS AND TUBES Filed Sept. 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mw m m mw m April 18, 1939.

J. D. LEAR MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FINS AND TUBES Filed Sept. 11, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 4 @00 9 woo woo '/IIIIIIII/III/I/ll/I/Il/JIII/Il/II/Il/Il/Il/IIIII-VIII/LVIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIl/t 3nnentor Jame o5Dlear attorney April 18, 1939. J. D. LEAR 2,154,355

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING FINS AND TUBES Filed Sept 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet5 (I i I I 75 7 67 3nnentor @6 05 Bled! xttorneg Patented Apr..18,' 1939mcnmr. ron assammmq rms AND runes Joseph D. Lear, Buffalo, N. r., am...to Feddera Manufacturing Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 11, 1936, Serial No. 100,331

Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying fins on and transverselyof one or more tubes to create a cross fin structure useful for heatexchange purposes, and it has particular refer- 5 ence to a machine inwhich means are provided to effect such assembly in a rapid andeconomical fashion.

A useful structure in the heat exchange arts consists of a plurality oftubes which are con- 10 nected to a number of transversely disposed heatradiating or absorbing metal fins more or less uniformly disposed alongthe length of such tubes. Heretofore, it has been customary to makethese assemblies by means of fixtures or nests as they are termed in theart, and it has also been proposed to effect the desired assembly bymeans of machines in which a number of tubes,

suitably mounted, receive the fins from a paddle mechanism movinglengthwise of the tube bank. 2 A serious difiiculty with machines ofthis nature has been that their production capacity has been curtailedby such factors as running time, difficulty of setting up the work, andmaintenance troubles, to such a degree as not to justify their use,particularly when compared to the economics of nest assembly. At thesame time, the principle of holding the tubes and moving the fins intoposition over them is basically sound.

Accordingly, the present invention has as its major object the provisionof an effective machine by means of which fins and tubes may be readilyassembled. According to one of the principles of the present invention,means are provided to move a fin lengthwise of the tube by afin-engaging member which contacts the fin during one phase of action,but is detached from the fin during another phase of actlonwhen it ismoved to position to receive another fin.

In another aspect, the invention contemplates the simultaneous operationof a plurality of finengaging members which are given a reciprocatorymotion with respect to the lengthwise disposal of the tubes, and whichstand crossways of the tubes while the fins are being advancedtherealong, but swing out of the path of the fins during the returnaction, so as not to interfere with the several fins already applied.

In another aspect, the invention contemplates the conjoint operation oftwo or more fin-engaging members, each of which serves to advance a finthroughout a limited length of the tube during its forward movement, andwhich, on its return stroke, moves under and to the rear of the fin justadvanced by the adjacent member. To attain this end, the machine of thepresent invention is provided with means to give to the fin-engagingmember an effective stroke greater than the mean distance between suchmembers when in fin-engaging position.

In still another aspect, the invention provides -means, not onlyapplicable to the machine embodying the foregoing principles, butgenerally applicable to machines of this class, for supporting the tubesindependently of the fin-engaging members during the operation of thelatter.

Other aspects of the invention will be made apparent from a descriptionof a typical embodiment of the principles thereof, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are related top views of the machine;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similarly related side views of the machine withportions shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the fin applying unit;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the line 6-6 of Fig. 4,showing the tube positioning unit;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section on the-line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one rocker shaft with a single platenpositioned thereon;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a supporting rod with the parts throughwhich it projects being shown in section;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged front view of a fin.

In various views of the drawings there is shown in the process ofassembly a cross fin coil C, which consists of parallel tube T andequally spaced transversely positioned fins F of rectilinear shape. InFig. 10 a preferred type of fin is shown in detail, where it will beobserved that it is formed with flanged apertures which are adaptedresiliently to engage about the tubes T.

The assembling machine for the above mentioned coil consists of twoprinciple units, a fin applying unit 20 which introduces fins onto thetubes in progressive order, and a tube position ing unit 30 which holdsthe tubes and additionally retreats upon the application of each fin toprovide for the correct and uniform spacing of the fins.

Fin applying unit The applyingunit 20 includes a machine frameconsisting of spaced, longitudinally disposed rails 2|, 22 mounted onpairs of legs 23, 24, and parallel carriage slides 25/ 26 supported oncross members 28, 29. The cross members also serve to connect the pairsof legs. A feed table 3| is disposed at the left hand end of thisstructure (Figs. 1 and 3) and it is formed with a platform 32 on whichthe fin supply is placed, and from which the fins are individually fedinto the machine, as hereinafter described.

A pair of similar carriages 24 and 25 are provided with spaced pairs ofdepending slide bearings 55 (Fig. 5); which engage in the opposedcarriage slides 25 and 26, and thus provide for free longitudinalsliding movement of the carriages along the machine frame. Bearings 38and are formed in spaced pairs on the upper surfaces of the carriagesandv each pair rotatably receives a rocker shaft 41 (Fig. 8) of a paddlewhich is formed with suitable pintles 42 and pro- Jecting squaredportions 43.

The body of each shaft 4| is rectangular in cross section and it isadapted to engage stop members 44 (Fig. 3) secured to the carriages,which limit the shaft's turning movement. A plurality of platens 45(Fig. 8) are mounted on each shaft 4| and they are formed with notchedhubs 46 which accurately fit the shaft, and vertical fingers 41, thefront faces 48 of which assume a perpendicular position when the shaftis in engagement with the stop members 44. Each platen is secured to theshaft by a set-screw 49 which engages in one of the holes 5| provided inthe shaft. It will be apparent that certain of the platens may beremoved, or the spacing thereof may be varied to suit the dimensionalcharacteristics of the coil being assembled; or, if the nature of thework does not demand this adjustable feature, the paddles 40 may be ofan integral character.

The first rock shaft of each carriagereceives a bell crank52 on each ofits squared portions 43. One arm of each crank is supplied with a camroller 53 while the remaining arm is pivotally secured to the extremityof a connecting bar 54. Levers 55 are connected to the remaining rockshafts, and they are also connected to the bars 54; which thusunite'thegroup of paddles on each carriage'for common pivotal action.

Paddle control cams I Through 'a drive mechanism,- which -will bpresently described, each carriage is reciprocated along the slides 25and 25in work-and relief strokes-through a distance slightly less thantwice the paddle spacing.

Referring first to the carriage 35 (Fig.f 3) -it will be observed thatit is at the end'of.its-=for ward or work stroke, from which position itwill retreat rearward. In Fig. 7, the transiatory movementof the firstpaddle of this carriage is shown,

where,- as-lt moves from its forward. position 51 to its rear position58, it is caused to rock forward to a substantially-horizontal position,whileon itsreturn or work stroke, it is restored rapidly to its verticalposition, as indicated'by the numeral 59.

A pair of control cams 50 are secured to the :rails 2| and 22 intransverse alignment, and each zontal position.

Prior to the completion of the return stroke, the paddles are caused tostart turning upward. throughthe medium of a second switch member 10,which forms an upwardly curved terminal for the track 65. This member issecured to a similar stud and lever system as devised for the switchmember 66, and it is normally retained thereby in contact with thesection 62 (Fig. '7).

As the cam roller 53 strikes the switch member 10, the latter member isforced downward against a stop member 15 which supports it as the camroller travels up the incline thus provided. The roller finally comes tothe end of its rearward movement where it is positioned beyond theextremity-of the member 10 and between the stop member 15 and thesection 6|.

The cam sections 6| and 52 are formed to provide a track 16therebetween, which extends upward and merges into a horizontal track 11chiefly formed by the top surface of the section 62.

With the cam roller in the last described position, it will be apparentthat the switch member 10 will be free to be restored to its upperposition. where its outer surface 18 will provide a continuation of thetrack 16. During the beginning of the forward stroke of the carriage,the roller 53,will engage the surface 18 and be deflected into the track16 for a sharp ascending movement, wherein the paddles will be rapidlyrestored to a vertical position and retained in such position for thebalance of the forward or work stroke.

Near the termination of the work stroke, the roller 53 will engage anddepress the switch member 66, and, after the roller has passed, theswitch willbe restored to its normal elevated position,

where-it is prepared to guide the rollerinto the track 64 on: thesubsequent rearward stroke.

- indicated in Figs. 1 and 3,2, second set ofv cams 60 is provided forcausing'an identical movement 'of' the paddles of the-rear carriage 34.

This carriage,'as wilihereafter be apparent, is

given a stroke of the same length as'thefirst carriage.

Feed Paddle A pair of spaced bearing brackets 19 are secured to the rearend of the carriage 24, and they ities of links 83, the remaining endsor which are pivotally connected to the legs 23. This structure providesan extra paddle on the carriage 34. which, as the carriage retreats, iscaused to tilt rearward, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

- Drive mechanism A main drive shaft (Figs. 3 and 5) connected to asuitable source of power (not shown) is mounted in bearings 85 of apedestal 81, and it operates an attached pinion 88 which meshes withsimilar gears 89. The gears are keyed to countershafts 90 which arejournalled in bearlugs 91 of the pedestal 81, and they in turn carrycranks 92 having similarly located crank pins, 52.

Floor bearings 04 aredisposed in spaced relation on each side of thepedestal 21, and they receive pins which project through the lower endsof thelevers 20 and 01. Connecting rods 98 and 28 have commonextremities connected to the crank pins 92, and their remainingextremities connected to mid-portions of the levers 96 and 91respectively by studs II.

The carriages 24 and 25 have depending bearings I02 secured thereto, andthey are each pivotally connected to one end of a link I02 by a pin I04.The remaining ends of the links are connected to the upper terminals ofthe levers 25 and 21 by pins I05 to complete the lever system.

In the operation of the lever system, it will be apparent that thelevers 00 and 91' will be similarly reciprocated by their cranks andtransmit a reciprocatory action to their respective carriages 24 and 25through the link connection I02. It will be noted that although thecarriages are provided with identical strokes, they are caused tooperate slightly out of phase with each other, due to the mismatchedpositioning of the cranks 82. Although obviously the carriages could beunited and be operated by a single lever system, it is preferred tosplit the paddle group into two or more parts to stagger the loadimpacts, and for other reasons which will be hereinafter set forth.

Tube positioning unit This unit is provided with a hollow base IIO whichis mounted on legs III at its right hand extremity, and on the crossmember 29 at its remaining extremity (Figs. 2, 4, 6). A screw H2 islongitudinally disposed in the base, and it is mounted in bearings II2therein. A tube sup- II5 which engage slide rails I20 formed on thebase. The vertical face IIG of the head H4 is formed with spaced socketsII1 for receiving the extremities of the tubes T. Small holes II! aredrilled in the rear of the sockets to permit passage of guide rods whichwill be described later.

The supporting head is formed with a depend- I ing projection IIQ whichis tapped to engage the screw H2. The screw is driven in timed relationto the movement of the carriage 25 through a driving mechanismconsisting of a gear I2I secured to the screw and operated by a gear I22through-the medium of a connecting gear I22, the latter gear beingmounted on the cross member 28 by a stud I24. The gear I22 is secured toa shaft I25 which projects through its bearing I25 to receive a helicalgear I21. A transversely positioned gear I28 meshes with the gear I21,

and it is secured to a shaft I which protrudes through bearing I29 andreceives a ratchet I20. A lever I2I is pivotally mounted on the shaftI40. and its extremity is connected by a stud I22 to a link I22, whichin turn is pivotally connected to the drive lever 91 of the carriage 25(Fig. '3) by a stud I24.

A pawl I25 adapted to engage the ratchet I20 is secured to a stud I25mounted in a bearing I21 .ing the nuts ISI.

rails I20. Thus, during each forward stroke of the carriage 20, the headII4 retreats simultaneously a short distance, and such movement of thehead determines the spacing between ad- Jacent fins.

The head may be positioned at any desired starting location along therails I20 by disconnectingthe pawl I25 and operating a small positioningmotor I (Figs. 4 and 6) which is secured to the cross rail 29. The motoroperates a pulley I42 which is connected by a belt to a pulley I42secured to the shaft I40, and through this connection with the geartrain, the motor may be controlled to drive the screw II2 for adjustablemovement of the head.

The guide structure A number of rods I44 are engaged through the holesII8 in the head II4, and thence through the tubes and beyondthe end ofthe fin applying unit (Figs. 1, 2, and 9) where their extremities areengaged in holes I45 provided in the vertical wall I40 of {the feedplatform 22. Ball clutches are formed within these holes through anangular wail'structure I41 and inserted balls I48. Thus, while the rodsmay be readily inserted, they may not be withdrawn unless tension isrelieved and a suitable instrument inserted to move the balls rearward.The opposite ends of the rods are formed with heads I49 which abut nutsI5I, which are screwed into a bracket I52 secured to the extremity ofthe base I20. In Fig. 9 it will be observed that short mandrels I54 areslipped over the rods and engaged in the tube extremities to guide thefins upon the tubes.

It will be understood that during the process porting head m is formedwith slide bearings 1 wading the machine the M15 are placed underconsiderable tension by tum- During the subsequent application of thefins on the tubes, the rods serve not only as guide means for the manualfeeding of the fins from the platform 22, but as a suspension means forthe united tubes and fins to prevent their sagging and interfering withthe paddies 40.

General operation When the machine is started, the operator, positionedat the feed table 2I, slides fins along the rods I44 in timed relationto the retreat or rearward movement of the carriage 24. Thus, when thefeed paddle is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, theoperator positions a fin at the location indicated by the numeral I. Onthe return or work stroke of the carriage 24, the feed paddle is rotatedinto engagement with the flu and it is simultaneously carried forwardwith the carriage to slide the fin forward to position II.

Following the course of this particular fin, it will be observed that onthe next return stroke of the carriage 24, the last paddle 40 thereof istipped forward so that it passes under this fin. Upon the subsequentreturn stroke, this paddle quickly assumes a vertical position, due tothe controlling action of the cams 00 (Fig. '7) and engages and movesthe fin forward to position III, where on the next cycle it is engagedby the adjacent paddle and similarly advanced to position IV.

Thus each paddle 40 engages the fin and advances it to a position whereit may be engaged by an adjacent paddle. As this step-by-step actioncontinues, the fin is forced over the mandrels I54 and along the tubesin the direction of the carriage 25, the paddles 40 ofwhich even-'tually engage this fin and convey it to the final position XII.

During each reciprocation of the carriages, a fin is fed to station I,so that a succession of fins follow the above-described fin along thetubes.

As previously described, when the carriages move forward, the head II iscaused to retreat simultaneously along the screw 2. Thus, after a fin isadvanced to position )HI, it may be considered fixed to the tubes andaccompanying head, and, upon the next work stroke of the carriage 85 thehead Ill, tubes T, and this particular fin retreat a short distance tothe right, so that the subsequent fin arriving at station XII is spacedtherefrom.

This progressive retreat of the tubes and attached mandrels continuesuntil a coil of the proper length is built up. It will be noted thatupon completion of an extremely long coil, the head I ll would bepositioned near the right hand end of its frame, as shown in Fig. 4,while the tube extremities and mandrels would be positioned betweenstations XI and XII (Fig. 3).

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the presentinvention provides a fin and tube assembling machine which is simple inconstruction and which may be operated with great rapidity, whereby thedesired structures may be manufactured economically. It will be observedthat the invention includes a number of novel and useful features. Amongthese may be briefly mentioned the provision of the fin-engaging memberswhich are given a reciprocatory movement along the tube bank, in' suchfashion as to press the fins towards their home" position in theadvancing phase of operation, and to remove themselves from the partialassembly during the retreating phase to a position behind the finadvanced by the preceding member. Each member thus transmits its finover to the next member, thus providing a rapid sequential movement ofthe fins from their supply stack toward the final position on the tubesthemselves.

It will be observed that while this action takes place, the tubes areprogressively moved rearwardly or away from the paddles, so that eachfin has its own home position at a uniform distance from the adjacentfins. This tube action, it will be noted, takes place as the finsthemselves are advanced, and hence the pressure, caused by the finssliding over the tubes, is transmitted to the tube head, to keep thetubes firmly seated therein.

It will also be seen that the tubes and fins are generally supported onthe rods I in such manner that they are independent of the fin-applyingmechanism, and, by placing these rods under a suitable tension, thedeformation or bending caused by the weight thereof is minimized to apoint where the slight sagging of the assembly is insufilcient to causemisalignment or otherwise interfere with the desired operation.

The foregoing and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled inthe art, who will also appreciate that various modifications andadaptations may be made in the illustrated embodiment of the invention,without departure from the scope thereof as set forth in the followingclaims.

I claim:

l. A machine for applying fins transversely of tubes comprising means tosupport the tubes, a plurality of mi engaging members, means forimparting to said members reciprocatory movement lengthwise of saidtubes, means for maintaining 2,1o4,ese

said members in fin-engaging position during the advancing phase of saidreciprocatory movement to move fins along said tubes, means fordiverting said members away from said tubes and the fins disposedthereon during the retreating phase of said movement, 9,774 means forrestoring said fin engaging members to fin engagi position at the end ofsaid retreating phase, said means being so proportioned with respect toeach other as to restore said members to fin engaging position aftersaid members have retreated a distance greater than the distance betweensaid members, whereby each member successively advances the fin advancedby an adjacent member during a preceding cycle of reciprocation.

2. The combination with a machine for applying fins transversely oftubes and including means to move fins lengthwise of the tubes, of meansfor supporting said tubes independently of said fin moving means, saidsupporting means comprising rods extending through said tubes and beyondthe ends thereof, supports for said rods at the ends thereof, and meansfor placing said rods under tension between said supports, whereby saidtensioned rods may support said tubes and fins disposed thereon inresistance" to the gravity load created by the mass thereof.

3. A machine for assembling cross fin coils, comprising a frame, acarriage mounted on the frame for sliding movement, a furcated finengaging paddle disposed transversely of the carriage and pivotallymounted thereon, drive means for reciprocating said carriage along saidframe, a head slidably mounted on the frame adjacent one extremity ofthe carriage, means on the head for supporting one end of a tube withthe remaining portion projecting over said carriage, means for rotatingthe paddle to an upright position to engage a fin during movement of thecarriage toward the head, the furcation of the paddle during thismovement receiving said tube therebetween, cooperating means forrotating the paddle to a substantially horizontal position during theopposite movement of the carriage, and means operated in timed relationto said drive means for moving said head and accompanying tube away fromsaid carriage.

4. A machine for, assembling cross fin coils, comprising a frame, a headslidably mounted on the frame, said head being formed tosupport one endof a tube, a fin receiving carriage, drive means for moving saidcarriage toward said head to force the fin on the tube, a rod extendingthrough the tube and head and having afin supply positioned thereon, andmounting means independent of the carriage and head for retaining saidrods under tension to provide a support for the fins and tube.

5. In an assembling machine for cross fin coils consisting of a tube andtransverse perforate fins, the combination of a frame, a head mounted onthe frame and formed to support one end of the tube, a rod extendingthrough the perforations of the fins and said tubes, means forsupporting opposite ends of the rod including tensioning means forretaining the rod taut as a support for the tubes and fins, and finapplying means mounted on the frame and movable to engage and force afin along the tube, drive means for the fin applying means, andcooperating means operating in timed relation thereto for moving saidhead and accompanying tube 'progressively toward one end of the frame.

6. A machine for assembling cross'fin coils. comprising a frame, acarriage mounted on the frame for sliding movement, a furcated finengaging paddle, disposed transversely of the carriage and pivotallymounted thereon, drive means for reciprocating said carriage on saidframe, a head sildably mounted on the frame adjacent one extremity ofthe carriage, means on the head for supporting one end of a tube, withthe remaining portion of the tube disposed over the carriage and betweenthe furcations of the paddle, a rod extending through said tube andhaving a tin supply positioned thereon adjacent the opposite end of thecarriage, means independent of the carriage and head for retaining saidrod under tension to provide a support for the fins and tube, and meansoperated in timed relation with said drive means for moving the head andaccompanying tube away from said carriage,

7. An assembling machine for cross fln coils comprising a frame, acarriage mounted in said, frame for sliding movement, a plurality oftransversely disposed spaced paddles pivotally mounted on the carriage,said paddles having furcated body portions, drive means forreciprocating the carriage in alternating work and return strokes, ahead mounted for sliding movement on the frame adjacent to saidcarriage, means operating in timed relation to said drive means formoving said head away from said carriage, means on the head forsupporting the ends of a plurality of tubes with the tubes projectingtherefrom and through the furcations in said paddles, means forretaining said paddles in a vertical position during the work stroke ofthe carriage whereby the paddles engage and force the fins along thetubes toward said head, and means engaging the paddles on the returnstroke to cause them to swing to a substantially horizontal positionwhile passing under fins applied during the preceding work stroke.

8. A machine for assembling cross fin coils comprising a frame, acarriage mounted on the frame for sliding movement, drive means forreciprocating said carriage on said frame, receiving rods positionedover said frame and said carriage and adapted to receive a fin supply,said fins being adapted to be slid individually along the rods towardone end of the carriage, a plurality of transversely disposed spacedpaddles having furcated body portions pivotally mounted on the carriage,control means for the paddles for moving them to a horizontal positionbeneath said rods and fins during movement of the carriage toward thefin supply, and means for restoring said paddles to a perpendicularposition and into engagement with the fins during the opposite movementof the carriage, a. head slidably mounted on the frame adjacent theopposite end of the carriage, means on the head for supporting commonends of a plurality of tubes with the remaining portions of the tubesdisposed over the carriage and between the paddle furcations in the pathof the fins being carried thereby, certain of said tubes receiving saidrods therein, and means operated in timed relation with said drive meansfor moving said head and accompanying tubes away from said carriage.

9. An assembling machine for cross fin coils comprising a frame, aplurality of carriages mounted on the frame for sliding movement anddisposed adjacent to each other, a furcated paddle pivotally mounted oneach carriage, reciprocating drive means, a connection between the drivemeans and each carriage whereby each carriage is provided with a similarreciprocating movement, said connections and drive means being organizedso that the carriages arrive at the end of their strokes in sequentialorder, a head mounted for sliding movement on the frame adjacent to thecarriages, means on the head for supporting one end of a tube with theremainder of the tube extending over the carriages and between thefurcations of the paddles thereof, means for retaining the paddles in aperpendicular fin engaging position on the carriages during movement ofthe respective carriages toward said head, cooperating means forrotating the paddles to a horizontal position during the oppositemovement of the carriages, and means operating in timed relation to saiddrive means for moving the head and accompanying tube toward one end ofthe frame.

10. A machine for assembling cross fin coils comprising a frame, acarriage mounted on the frame for sliding movement, drive means forreciprocating the carriage along the frame, a paddle on the carriagecomprising a shaft pivotally mounted thereon and a plurality of furcatedmembers adjustably secured to said shaft, a head mounted on the frameadjacent one extremity of the carriage, means on the head for supportingone end of a tube with the remaining portion projecting over saidcarriage, means for rotating the paddle to an upright position to engagea fln during movement of the carriage toward the head, the furcations ofthe paddle member during this movement receiving the tube therebetween,and cooperating means for rotating said paddle to a substantiallyhorizontal position during the opposite movement of the carriage.

JOSEPH D. LEAR.

